Portsmouth restaurant bans presidential candidates

Thursday

Jan 5, 2012 at 2:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — As Republican presidential candidates scurry across the state campaigning for support at business after business, one local restaurant is hoping not to get involved in the hype leading up to the state's Jan. 10 primary.

Charles McMahon

PORTSMOUTH — As Republican presidential candidates scurry across the state campaigning for support at business after business, one local restaurant is hoping not to get involved in the hype leading up to the state's Jan. 10 primary.

"No Politicians No Exceptions" reads the sign taped to the entrance of Colby's Breakfast and Lunch, a popular eatery on Daniel Street.

Employee Jessica Labrie, who made the sign and placed it on the outer door of the restaurant, said she posted it Tuesday in response to several complaints from customers.

Labrie said several GOP presidential candidates — including Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer — have visited the business since the summer. Each time, Labrie said, their presence was an interruption.

"They make a big deal when they come in here," she said. "You can watch all this stuff on the news, but when you're here eating breakfast, you don't want to hear it."

The most recent candidate visit came Monday when Roemer, who has struggled to gain traction in the race, stopped in. Labrie said Roemer popped in unexpectedly and announced who he was to the entire restaurant.

"It disrupted people's conversations who were having breakfast," she said.

A similar situation occurred in the summer, when Labrie said Perry and Bachmann visited the restaurant for lunch. She said the visit was marred by overbearing campaign staff members who requested to reserve one side of the small restaurant despite there being only 10 tables in the entire establishment.

"They said, 'Just so you know, you'll have the pleasure of waiting on Gov. Perry and (Congresswoman) Bachmann. Don't be nervous. Just be yourself and you'll be fine.'"

Labrie said she responded with, "I don't know if you really want me to be myself."

A two-year employee of the restaurant, Labrie said she considers herself only slightly interested in politics. She said most of the staff at Colby's has a similar view.

"It's a business, first and foremost," she said. "We don't want our customers to feel uncomfortable."

Owner Jeremy Colby echoed his employee's statements Wednesday. Colby said candidates and politicians have been stopping in for many months and have at times overwhelmed his small business.

"I find it incredibly rude," said Colby, who said his political views are as liberal as they come. "I also find it amusing that they talk about how the economy and small business is so important, yet they are OK with creating a disturbance that impacts my small business."

Having owned the restaurant since 2003, Colby said, his business model is only successful if he is able to turn over its 28 seats in an orderly fashion. He said that is hard to do when a politician barges in and interrupts customers as they dine.

"I don't appreciate Joe Blow coming in here and whoring around the dining room for votes," he said.

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